A dramatic brake pass from Haas by Magnussen on lap 56 transformed the Australian race into a tense two-lap sprint. The event intensified a race already halted by two safety car periods and red flags, with cars exiting the pits under pressure. Verstappen clung to happiness in the closing moments, Hamilton secured the runner-up spot, and Fernando Alonso showed his teeth to the British crowd, while Carlos Sainz found himself bumped back as he pressed for a podium finish.
“Brutal War”
One corner later Magnussen collided with the wall, ripping off a wheel and spreading debris across the track. The two-lap dash began anew, this time with a standing start from the grid for the third time in the race. Commentator Antonio Lobato called it one of the most brutal battles in living memory, warning that the outcome could end in the first corner for someone involved.
The chaos began at the start: Sainz clipped Alonso, removing him from his line, while a separate incident behind them locked in place the final order for the last two laps. No one managed to gain ground past the reset point, leaving Alonso in third, Hamilton in second, and Verstappen ahead at the flag.
Sainz Attacks Alonso
Alonso held the podium position despite the late scare, even as Sainz pressed forward and clashed with Gasly, leaving the Spaniard to be jostled by the midfield pack. The move drew scrutiny in the rules-and-reboot review, highlighting the intense aggression that defined perhaps the craziest Grand Prix of recent memory.
With the track cluttered by crashed machines, the finish remained uncertain for several minutes. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, and Alonso later stated over the radio that the final result mirrored the starting order after the last reboot. The cadence of the race had already been set by the earlier incidents, but the conclusion kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Ultimately, the decision was made to keep the last lap under safety while maintaining the restarted final order. The podium line settled as Verstappen first, Hamilton second, Alonso third, with Sainz in fourth place, a testament to the furious pace and stubborn resolve shown across the field.